Watch strap buckle



Jan. 28, 1941. A. o. SCHOENINGER WATCH STRAP BUCKLE- F iled Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTgSX 0. my. 7 Q

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1941 WA'rcn s'rnar BUCKLE Adolf 0. Schoeninger, Irvington, N. J assignor to Forstner Chain Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application'January 21, 1939, Serial No. 252,174

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to the bracelet art, and has particular reference to a novel construction for extension bracelets, whereby the length of the bracelet may be changed as desired.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a bracelet construction which permits instant detachment and separation of an easily manipulated part, so as to facilitate removal and mounting of the bracelet.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction having a detachable connection, the parts being so arranged that the ends of the bracelet are never completely separated, whereby the wrist Watch cannot fall to the ground.

A further object of my invention is to provide an extension bracelet construction which includes a small number of readily manufactured parts, and which is positive in action, whereby the length of the bracelet may be adjusted to fit the wrist of a wearer.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel bracelet construction.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, the clasp being open;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the bracelet length adjusting parts in open position;

Fig. 5 is a plan View, similar to Fig. 4, the parts being in closed relation;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, the parts being shown in closed position;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the connector cover plate of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective bottom plan view of the attachment device for releasable attachment to the lock arrangement of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view, similar to Fig. 8, the cover plate being removed;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of frame there for;

Fig. 11 is a perspective bottom view of the cover plate; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective View showing the relative position and construction of the lock plates.

The present invention relates to extension bracelets of the type having a lock device which is adjustably positioned on one portion of the bracelet, an attachment arrangement being mounted on another portion of the bracelet for releasable securing to the lock device. The essential feature of the present arrangement'resides in the provision of simplied structures for 5 the lock device and the attachment arrangement.

Referring to the drawing, the bracelet ill includes a strap portion H, see Fig. 2, which has an end hook for attachment to the bail at one side of a wrist watch, and a slide link 13 through 10 which a second bracelet portion M may be longitudinally moved, this second portion It also having an end hook l5 for attachment to the other bail of the Wrist Watch. The lock device" It is adjustably slidably positioned on the strap 1 portion H, and may be locked in place along the length thereof so as to change the effective length of the bracelet, the strap portion It having an attaching element I! which is detachably' securable to the lock device 16.

Referring now to Fig. l, the lock device comprises a base i 8, preferably of stamped metal, having a bottom plate l9 and two side plates 20, each side plate having a longitudinal slot 2| for receiving the end lug 22 of a connector element 23. The connector element 23 has a fiat plate portion 2 adapted toengage the top of the strap portion H, which strap portion extends through and overlies the base plate 89; the connector element 25 extends upwardly and then horizontally and then downwardly to form a hook receiving chamber which has a slot 26 for receiving connector hooks as hereinafter explained, the slot ends being spaced from the side edges to provide horizontal catch shoulders, and the forward portion of the hook receiving chamber forming a transverse abutment for the connector hooks.

A cam element 21, see Fig. 6, is rotatably mounted on a pivot 28 which has its ends secured in the plate 20, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the cam having an outwardly extending finger portion 29, which when manually pressed down rotates the cam to bring the cam end 30 firmly against the plate 24 so as to thrust the plate downwardly into locking engagement with the strap portion H. The slots 2| are made large enough to permit the necessary up and down movement of the lugs 22.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the attachment device 3| includes a base 32, formed as disclosed in Fig. 10, having sides 33 each of which has slots 34 of relative large width, and narrower slots 35 adjacent thereto. The sides 33 have openings 36 for receiving the pivot ends 31 of an end connection 38, which has arms 39 for locking the attachment device to the end of the strap portion l4. Positioned on the base of the connector 32 are two hook elements 40 and 4|, preferably in the form of small plates, the ends 42 of which form finger engageable extensions which project outwardly through the slots 34, the opposite ends of the plates being formed with recesses 43 wherein an expansion spring 44 is housed. The two hook plates 40 and M are therefore resiliently urged away from each other, but are provided with end shoulders t5 formed thereon to prevent passage through the slots 34; each plate has an upstanding hook porl5 tion 46 having a latch tooth 41.

The two plates 40 and 4| and their spring 44 are positioned on the base 32, and the assembly is completed by a cover plate 68, which has a recess 49 to accommodate the spring 44,

and which has end lugs 50 which extend through and are received in the slots 35. The cover plate 48 has a downwardly depending flange 5| which conceals the working parts after assembly and forms a wall to retain plates 40 and M in position, its sides contacting the inner surfaces of the base sides 32.

With the parts assembled together as shown in Fig. 8, the ends 42 of the hook plate may be manually pressed inwardly to move the two hooks 41, the hooks being resiliently urged outwardly by the spring 44 when manual pressure on the end is released. To connect the attachment device to the lock device, it is positioned over the connector element 25, see Fig. '7, whereupon the two hooks may be drawn inwardly by pressure on the ends 42 to pass downwardly into the slot 26, the spring pressure then forcing them outwardly to lock with the catch shoulders at the ends of the slot to prevent lifting separating 40 movement of the attachment device, and to lock with the transverse abutment to prevent lengthwise or lateral separating movement of the attachment device. Preferably, the ends of the hook may be so rounded or shaped that the 5 inward movement is automatically accomplished by pressing down on the connector element. To adjust the bracelet length, the finger lever 29 is raised, thus releasing the plate 24 from looking contact with its strap portion, whereupon. the

50 entire lock device may be moved lengthwise of 55 position.

60 obtained by pressing the two edges 42 inwardly,

whereby the two hooks are retracted from their locking engagement with the ends of the slot 26.

All of the parts are preferably made of stamped sheet metal, this construction lending itself to rapid and inexpensive manufacture and to rapid assembly, whereby the cost of manufacturing is greatly reduced. The parts may be ornamented as desired, either by engraving, plating, enameling, or the like.

While I have described a specific constructional embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that the size and shape of the parts, the material used for the parts, and their relative positioning and operation, may be changed to suit the requirements for different bracelet designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separable connection for an extension strap having two strap portions in overlying relation, comprising a lock device adapted to be slidably mounted on the lower strap portion and having clamp means for releasably locking it thereto along the length thereof, and an attachment device adapted to be secured to the upper strap portion, said lock device having spaced catch shoulders arranged in generally parallel relation to and above the strap portions and transverse abutment means positioned across the strap portions, said attachment device having parts cooperating with said catch shoulders and said abutment means to prevent lifting and lengthwise separating movements of the two strap portions and comprising movable latch elements downwardly insertable between said catch shoulders and resiliently urged outwardly to releasably lock beneath said catch shoulders.

2. A separable connection for an extension strap having two strap portions in overlying relation, comprising a lock device adapted to be slidably mounted on the lower strap portion and having clamp means for releasably looking it thereto along the length thereof, and an attachment device adapted to be secured to the upper strap portion, said lock device having a plate with a transverse slot providing spaced catch shoulders arranged in generally parallel relation to and above the strap portions and transverse abutment means positioned across the strap portions, said attachment device having parts cooperating with said catch shoulders and said abutment means to prevent lifting and lengthwise separating movements of the two strap portions and comprising movable latch elements having finger engageable extensions and downwardly insertable between said catch shoulders and resiliently urged outwardly to releasably lock beneath said catch shoulders.

ADOLF O. SCI-IOENINGER. 

